Gov. Deal announces new R&D center after meeting with company leaders in China

Gov. Nathan Deal announced this week from China that SANY Heavy Industry, LLC, will add a research and development center to its existing SANY North America facility in Peachtree City, investing $25 million and creating approximately 300 jobs. Gov. Deal made the announcement after meeting with SANY Group Chairman Liang Wengen at the company’s global headquarters in Changsha during a seven-day economic development mission in Asia.

“This expansion stems not only from the success SANY already enjoys in Georgia, but from the relationship that has developed between SANY and our state as well,” Deal said. “The talent from our academic institutions ensures that SANY will have a deep supply of the skilled workers needed to stay at the forefront of innovation.”

The new R&D center will design and develop new products across many of the SANY Group product lines. The company will hire 300 mechanical and hydraulic engineers within the next three to five years. Hiring will begin in about a year and will be handled by the Georgia Department of Labor. SANY is already in the process of doubling its existing workforce of 108 employees.

“The new R&D center will help SANY's internationalization initiatives and strengthen SANY's competitiveness in the global market,” said Jack Tang, President of SANY North America.

SANY’s North American manufacturing operation has been located in Peachtree City since 2007. The $60 million, 420,000-square-foot facility produces specialized cranes and lifting equipment for the Americas’ construction marketplace. It also contains the company’s sales, procurement and engineering offices. In March of 2011, SANY North America celebrated the completion of the first phase of its assembly plant in a ceremony attended by Gov. Deal, Chairman Liang, and Qiang Zhou, Party Secretary of Hunan Province, SANY’s home base in China. The Peachtree City location currently employs about 100 workers.

"Fayette County, Peachtree City, and the Fayette County Development Authority are excited about the new Research and Development facility, and the jobs it will bring to our community,” said Brandt Herndon, President of the Fayette County Development Authority. “SANY has already had a tremendous impact in our community and we look forward to a long and harmonious relationship with this growing company.”

The announcement of the expansion came at the conclusion of a day spent by the Georgia delegation in Changsha, Hunan Province. In addition to touring the SANY facility, the largest manufacturing plant in Asia, Gov. Deal met with Shousheng Xu, Governor of Hunan Province, and Deputy Gov. Guo Kailang. Gov. Deal and Gov. Xu co-signed a memorandum of understanding pledging a joint commitment by the state of Georgia and Hunan Province to work towards mutually beneficial economic development initiatives. Gov. Deal signed a like agreement with the Governor of Shandong Province, Jiang Daming, during the Beijing leg of the mission. On Oct. 22, Commissioner Chris Cummiskey of the Georgia Department of Economic Development will sign a similar MOU with Dr. Sha Hailin, Deputy Secretary-General of the Shanghai Municipal Government.

“SANY’s decision to choose Georgia for its expansion, as well as these agreements to work toward future partnerships, are tangible outcomes of relationships we’re able to cultivate during missions like this,” said Cummiskey. “When we take the time to visit potential customers at their headquarters, they realize our interest is sincere and our commitment to their success is very real.”

About SANY America, Inc.
SANY Group Ltd. was founded in 1989 and has exceeded sales revenues of $8 billion with 53,000 employees in over 120 countries. The parent company is one of the world’s largest concrete machinery manufacturers and the largest concrete-pumping equipment company in China. SANY Group Ltd. ranks among the Forbes “Top Chinese Enterprises” and has 30 subsidiaries worldwide and exports to 110 countries. SANY America is a division of SANY Group Co. Ltd., which is headquartered in the Hunan Province of China.